Harris County Jail: Inmate Search, Bond, Visitation & Release Information
If someone has been arrested in Houston or Harris County, start here. Find the official inmate search, determine where the person is being held, check charges and court information, learn how bond works, schedule a visit, send money, understand phone and mail rules, and find release information.
Harris County may house incarcerated people at different Harris County jail buildings and at contract facilities outside the downtown jail complex. Visitation, phone service, mail procedures, and money-deposit methods can change depending on the current housing location. Always check the official inmate search before visiting, sending money, or mailing anything.
How to Find Someone in the Harris County Jail
Use the Harris County Sheriff's Office's official search before calling facilities or attempting to visit.
Harris County Inmate Search
The Sheriff's search can locate a person using information such as the person's SPN, last name, first name, and date of birth.
Search results can help identify the person's current housing location and SPN number.
Open Official Inmate Search →Offense Inquiry
Harris County's Offense Inquiry can provide additional information, including whether the defendant is currently in jail, case information, the next setting date and time, case disposition, and available release information.
Open Offense Inquiry →Harris County uses an SPN, or system person number, to identify people in its criminal justice system. Once you locate the person, write the SPN down. You may need it for jail, mail, money, visitation, and case inquiries.
Harris County Jail Locations
Harris County operates several downtown jail facilities. The Sheriff's Office may also use contract facilities, so do not assume someone is housed at the building where they were originally processed.
| Facility | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Processing Center (JPC) | 700 N. San Jacinto St. Houston, TX 77002 |
(713) 755-5300 |
| 701 N. San Jacinto | 701 N. San Jacinto St. Houston, TX 77002 |
(346) 286-2840 |
| 711 N. San Jacinto | 711 N. San Jacinto St. Houston, TX 77002 |
(346) 286-2998 |
| 1200 Baker Street | 1200 Baker St. Houston, TX 77002 |
(346) 286-2211 |
| 1307 Baker Street | 1307 Baker St. Houston, TX 77002 |
(346) 286-2600 |
Harris County also uses contract jail facilities. These locations can change and may use different visitation, telephone, video, mail, and deposit providers. Use the official inmate search to confirm the person's current facility before taking any action.
Bond and Bail in Harris County
Bond depends on the charge, court, judicial decision, and individual circumstances. Harris County recognizes several types of release.
Cash Bond
Cash bail may be posted according to the amount ordered in the case. Harris County accepts cash bonds through the Sheriff's bonding process.
Surety Bond
A licensed bail bond company may post a surety bond. Harris County maintains an approved list through its Bail Bond Board.
Personal Bond
A judge may authorize release on a personal bond without requiring traditional financial security. Eligibility and conditions are determined through the court process.
- Find the person first. Confirm the person is booked, obtain the SPN, and check the charge and bond amount.
- Check the bond status. Some people may be awaiting a magistrate, court order, hold, or other action before release is possible.
- Choose the appropriate bond method. Depending on the case, this may involve cash bail, an approved surety company, or a court-authorized personal bond.
- Allow time for release processing. Posting bond does not mean the person immediately walks out the door. Jail release processing must still occur.
Where Harris County Accepts Bonds
Harris County Sheriff's Office bonding:
700 N. San Jacinto Street
Houston, TX 77002
HCSO also provides an online option for qualifying cash-bail payments. Always verify the current bond and eligibility before paying.
Official Bonding Instructions →Approved Bail Bond Companies
If using a bondsman, check the Harris County Bail Bond Board's current approved bonding-company list.
Harris County Bail Bond Board →Charges, Court Dates, and Criminal Case Information
The jail record and the court record are related, but they are not the same thing. Use the jail system for custody information and the court systems for the criminal case.
HCSO Offense Inquiry
Search by identifiers such as the SPN or Harris County cause number for case-setting and custody-related information.
Search Offense Inquiry →Harris County District Clerk
Search Harris County public criminal records and case information. The District Clerk currently requires a registered login to access public criminal-record searches, but public case information remains available without a search fee after login.
Search Criminal Records →My Harris County Case
Harris County also provides a case-information tool designed to help people prepare for criminal hearings.
Open My Harris County Case →If you are the defendant, verify your next setting through the assigned court or official court record. Do not rely solely on information passed along by another person.
Harris County Jail Visitation
In-person visitation is appointment based. The person's facility, floor, and housing location determine when a visit can occur.
Before You Go
Visitors should register through the Harris County visitation scheduling system and may generally schedule a visit up to seven days in advance.
Arrive approximately 30 minutes early for identification verification.
Regular visits are generally 20 minutes.
Schedule a Visit →Visitor Limits
A person in custody may receive a maximum of two visitors during a visit.
If a child is visiting, at least one visitor must be an adult. Visitors age 16 and younger are not required to register.
Adults should bring an acceptable government-issued photo ID.
General In-Person Visitation Hours
| Day | General Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | No general visitation |
| Tuesday | 1:00–5:00 p.m. and 7:30–10:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 1:00–5:00 p.m. and 7:30–10:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 1:00–5:00 p.m. and 7:30–10:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 1:00–5:00 p.m. and 7:30–10:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 1:00–5:00 p.m. and 7:30–10:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | 1:00–5:00 p.m. and 7:30–10:00 p.m. |
Harris County uses a floor-specific visitation schedule, and the Joint Processing Center has its own limited visitation periods. Do not simply arrive during a general visitation window. Confirm the person's facility and housing location and schedule the visit through the official system.
Harris County prohibits visitors from taking items such as purses, wallets, bags, phones, recording devices, writing instruments, food, drinks, and other prohibited property into the visit. Dress-code rules are also enforced.
Phone Calls and Video Visits
You generally cannot call an incarcerated person directly at the Harris County Jail. The person in custody must place the call.
Phone Calls
Harris County Jail inmates cannot receive incoming telephone calls. They may place outgoing calls.
For Harris County Jail facilities, the Sheriff's Office directs families to Securus for Advance Pay telephone services.
Securus assistance: 1-800-844-6591
Official Phone Instructions →Remote Video
Harris County states that remote video visitation may be available through Securus AdvanceConnect for people housed in Harris County Jail facilities.
Contract facilities may use completely different video providers and schedules.
Check Current Video Options →Phone and video accounts do not necessarily follow a person when Harris County transfers them to a contract facility. Check the new location before adding more funds to a phone or video account.
Sending Money and Commissary
Harris County calls an incarcerated person's account the Inmate Trust Fund or Inmate Bank.
Harris County Jail and its contract facilities may use different deposit companies. Sending money through the wrong provider can create delays and refund problems.
Online
For people housed in Harris County Jail facilities, HCSO lists Access Corrections for online deposits.
Access Corrections →By Phone
Access Corrections provides telephone deposit assistance through a live bilingual agent.
866-345-1884
Retail / Kiosk
HCSO also lists kiosk deposits and participating retail locations. Retail cash deposits may require registration and a barcode.
See All Deposit Methods →Harris County states that people with available funds and without applicable disciplinary restrictions may generally spend up to $150 per week on commissary. Medical restrictions may affect certain purchases.
Sending Mail to the Harris County Jail
Harris County changed its personal-mail procedure on June 16, 2025. Ordinary personal mail is no longer delivered directly to the jail in the traditional way.
Securus Digital Mail Center
Personal mail is routed through the Securus Digital Mail Center. Compliant mail is scanned and made available to the incarcerated person through an eMessaging tablet or kiosk.
Because Harris County's current mailing instructions are maintained on the official HCSO mail page, use that page for the current mailing destination before sending anything.
Get Current Mailing Instructions →Information You Need
Your mail should include:
• Your full name
• Complete return address
• Inmate's full name as booked
• SPN number
• Housing facility
• Cell block location
Do Not Send
HCSO states that the Digital Mail Center does not accept packages, certified mail, checks, or money orders.
Legal mail and publications follow separate procedures and should not be sent to the personal digital-mail destination.
The physical jail addresses listed elsewhere on this page are not the general destination for ordinary personal mail under the current digital-mail system. Always use the current HCSO mail instructions.
Release From the Harris County Jail
Harris County's Offense Inquiry may provide release information when available. Actual release still requires completion of jail processing.
Where Are People Released?
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, people released from the Harris County Jail exit through the:
Harris County Sheriff's Joint Processing Center
700 N. San Jacinto Street
Houston, TX 77002
Check Release Status
Use the HCSO Offense Inquiry for available custody and release information.
Release times can vary because a person may have another hold, another case, paperwork still processing, or another agency involved.
Check Release Information →HCSO permits an incarcerated person to authorize release of property to another person. The recipient must generally appear with valid government photo identification and follow the property-release process. Harris County states that a completed property release must be claimed within 24 hours.
Medical and Mental Health Care
Harris County reports that people entering the jail receive medical and mental-health screening during intake.
Medical Screening
HCSO states that incoming people are screened for medical and mental-health issues before housing and have an opportunity to provide information about prescribed medication.
Jail medical services include medical, mental-health, dental, optical, and prescription services.
Prescription Medication
Family members should not bring prescription medication directly to the jail for an incarcerated person.
HCSO states that medications are handled through the jail's pharmacy and medical system.
Harris County provides an Inmate Care / Quality of Life process through the Sheriff's Office jail-information system. For general inmate information, call (713) 755-5300.
Sentenced to TDCJ?
A person sentenced to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may remain in Harris County custody while waiting for transfer.
Transfer to State Prison
Harris County's TDCJ section processes people sentenced to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Transfer occurs after Harris County receives the appropriate notification and TDCJ accepts the transfer.
TDCJ Main Information: (936) 437-8035
TDCJ Release Information: 1-800-535-0283
HCSO TDCJ Information →Harris County Jail FAQ
How do I find out if someone was arrested in Houston?
Can I call someone in the Harris County Jail?
Can I visit someone while they are still being processed?
Where do I pick someone up when they are released?
How do I find someone's bond amount?
Can I send cash or a money order in a personal letter?
Why is my family member housed outside Harris County?
Does posting bond mean the person will be released immediately?
Harris County Sheriff's Office Contacts
For questions that cannot be answered through the online systems, use the official Harris County Sheriff's Office contact information.
1200 Baker Street
Houston, TX 77002